MotherReader

Today this blog is three years old. It seemed like a good time to repost one of my favorite things ever — 100 Things About Me.

The 100 Things meme was going around a little before I began blogging, but I liked the concept of it. Break down the essence of who you are into a simple list. Some people missed the point by starting with statistics from their driver’s licenses. Other lists read like poetry. It’s harder than you think to get to one hundred things, but I highly recommend it as an exercise for writing, self-knowledge, or mental challenge.

The best thing about this list is that I’ve made only minor changes to it since its creation three years ago. What’s true about me... well, it stayed true. The blog has made some changes over three years, but for the most part, it too has stayed true to its roots.

I know that blog birthdays can inspire well wishes. That’s a good thing. I also know that it can be hard to make a comment when you feel like you’re saying the same thing as everyone else. But now instead you can mention the number or numbers below that you like best, that are most like you, or that inspire you. Then we’ll do it again in another three years.

1. I read almost compulsively.
   
2. Some people think I’m funny.
   
3. I am a packrat.
   
4. I usually know where to find things.
   
5. I don’t like having my picture taken.
   
6. People’s stories intrigue me.
   
7. I could probably sing professionally.
   
8. I am a dedicated mother.
   
9. I love to help people.
   
10. I can be a good liar.
    
11. I crave sweets.
    
12. My current weight bothers me.
    
13. I still don’t exercise enough.
    
14. I’ll never, never understand how a computer works.
    
15. I love cats.
    
16. I don’t like dogs.
    
17. But I’ve been known to make exceptions.
    
18. I don’t drive in D.C. because it scares me.
    
19. I hum in public places.
    
20. And sometimes sing out loud.
    
21. Without my glasses, I’m helpless.
    
22. I would drive an hour to spend time with a friend.
    
23. I hate indoor pools.
    
24. I love indoor roller rinks.
    
25. I cry too easily.
    
26. I don’t get the point of frozen peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
    
27. Or frozen garlic bread.
    
28. I’m not sure who my best friend is.
    
29. My family is my first priority.
    
30. I have ten watches.
    
31. But I am never on time.
    
32. I talk on my cell phone while I’m driving.
    
33. I’m always surprised when it rings.
    
34. I don’t really read the newspaper.
    
35. But I’m trying to read more of it.
    
36. My kitchen has to be clean.
    
37. But nothing else is.
    
38. I love shopping.
    
39. I really love a bargain.
    
40. I will never own a bread machine.
    
41. Or a quesadilla maker.
    
42. I can’t decide whether to go to grad school.
    
43. Or whether to get laser surgery on my eyes.
    
44. Or what dentist to go to.
    
45. Basically, I can’t make decisions.
    
46. I’d like to live by the ocean.
    
47. Summer is my favorite season.
    
48. I get a great deal of my news from The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
    
49. I can rollerblade fairly well.
    
50. I would like to publish a book.
    
51. I have a terrible sense of direction.
    
52. I hold up my hands to tell my left from right.
    
53. I don’t use the ATM.
    
54. I think I’m allergic to melons.
    
55. I love New York City, but I can’t imagine living there.
    
56. I can’t follow football.
    
57. I’ve seen 90 of the 100 top-grossing movies.
    
58. I often drive with no music whatsoever just to enjoy the silence.
    
59. I can identify four different kinds of cows.
    
60. Centipedes freak me out.
    
61. I usually have a crush on someone.
    
62. Which my husband knows.
    
63. But not always.
    
64. Considering I work in a library, I buy a lot of books.
    
65. Most of them are used.
    
66. In college, I was a psychology major.
    
67. I used my major after college for one year.
    
68. Unless you include counseling my crazy family.
    
69. I yell at my kids too much.
    
70. When I let it out, I have a funky sense of style.
    
71. I am not very patient.
    
72. Except at work.
    
73. Stupid people drive me crazy.
    
74. I have been to Europe and Canada, but not Mexico.
    
75. I am a natural flirt.
    
76. British accents melt me like butter.
    
77. When people spell words out, I can’t follow it.
    
78. I am not a morning person.
    
79. If I don’t shower by noon, I won’t shower.
    
80. I’ve lost the ability to truly sleep it off.
    
81. Which makes for occasional tough weekends.
    
82. I’ve had my heart broken.
    
83. Sunrises make me sad.
    
84. I still love stuffed animals.
    
85. When salt spills, I throw it over my left shoulder.
    
86. I wish I appreciated poetry more than I do.
    
87. Before this blog, I had written seven poems.
    
88. And two haiku.
    
89. I can’t always work the DVD player.
    
90. For years I drove, and loved, a VW Karmann Ghia.
    
91. I wrecked it in the only car accident I ever had.
    
92. In 24 years of driving, I’ve gotten two speeding tickets.
    
93. Which is amazing luck.
    
94. I love arts and crafts.
    
95. I tend to repeat myself.
    
96. I tend to repeat myself.
    
97. When my alarm goes off, I snooze for nine minutes.
    
98. I don’t always feel like a grown-up.
    
99. I don’t share the good chocolate with anyone.
    
100. I still make wishes when I blow out the candles.

1. I read almost compulsively.
2. Some people think I’m funny.
3. I am a packrat.
4. I usually know where to find things.
5. I don’t like having my picture taken.
6. People’s stories intrigue me.
7. I could probably sing professionally.
8. I am a dedicated mother.
9. I love to help people.
10. I can be a good liar.
11. I crave sweets.
12. My current weight bothers me.
13. I still don’t exercise enough.
14. I’ll never, never understand how a computer works.
15. I love cats.
16. I don’t like dogs.
17. But I’ve been known to make exceptions.
18. I don’t drive in D.C. because it scares me.
19. I hum in public places.
20. And sometimes sing out loud.
21. Without my glasses, I’m helpless.
22. I would drive an hour to spend time with a friend.
23. I hate indoor pools.
24. I love indoor roller rinks.
25. I cry too easily.
26. I don’t get the point of frozen peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
27. Or frozen garlic bread.
28. I’m not sure who my best friend is.
29. My family is my first priority.
30. I have ten watches.
31. But I am never on time.
32. I talk on my cell phone while I’m driving.
33. A lot.
34. I don’t really read the newspaper.
35. I am trying to do Sudoku, but I’m not very good.
36. My kitchen has to be clean.
37. But nothing else is.
38. I love shopping.
39. I really love a bargain.
40. I will never own a bread machine.
41. Or a quesadilla maker.
42. I can’t decide whether to go to grad school.
43. Or whether to get laser surgery on my eyes.
44. Or what dentist to go to.
45. Basically, I can’t make decisions.
46. I’d like to live by the ocean.
47. Summer is my favorite season.
48. I get a great deal of my news from The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
49. I can rollerblade fairly well.
50. I would like to write a book.
51. I have a terrible sense of direction.
52. I hold up my hands to tell my left from right.
53. I don’t use the ATM.
54. I think I’m allergic to melons.
55. I love New York City, but I can’t imagine living there.
56. I can’t follow football.
57. I’ve seen 90 of the 100 top-grossing movies.
58. I often drive with no music whatsoever just to enjoy the silence.
59. I can identify four different kinds of cows.
60. Centipedes freak me out.
61. I usually have a crush on someone.
62. Which my husband knows.
63. But not always.
64. Considering I work in a library, I buy a lot of books.
65. Most of them are used.
66. In college, I was a psychology major.
67. I used my major after college for one year.
68. Unless you include counseling my crazy family.
69. I yell at my kids too much.
70. When I let it out, I have a funky sense of style.
71. I am not very patient.
72. Except at work.
73. Stupid people drive me crazy.
74. I have been to Europe and Canada, but not Mexico.
75. I am a natural flirt.
76. British accents melt me like butter.
77. When people spell words out, I can’t follow it.
78. I am not a morning person.
79. If I don’t shower by noon, I won’t shower.
80. I’ve lost the ability to truly sleep it off.
81. Which makes for occasional tough weekends.
82. I’ve had my heart broken.
83. Sunrises make me sad.
84. I still love stuffed animals.
85. When salt spills, I throw it over my left shoulder.
86. I wish I appreciated poetry more than I do.
87. I have written seven poems.
88. And two haiku.
89. I can’t always work the DVD player.
90. For years I drove, and loved, a VW Karmann Ghia.
91. I wrecked it in the only car accident I ever had.
92. In 20 years of driving, I’ve gotten one speeding ticket.
93. Which is amazing luck.
94. I love arts and crafts.
95. I tend to repeat myself.
96. I tend to repeat myself.
97. When my alarm goes off, I snooze for nine minutes.
98. I don’t always feel like a grown-up.
99. I don’t share the good chocolate with anyone.
100. I still make wishes when I blow out the candles.